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Balinese Rituals

by Sandra Ramani

A strong sense of place and respect for tradition form the basis for the meaningful guest experiences at the Ritz-Carlton, Bali, which opened in 2015 on the Indonesian island's southern Nusa Dua peninsula, along the shores of the Indian Ocean.

From market visits, cooking classes, local chocolate tastings and early-morning beachside blessing ceremonies, to a half-day Sarong Concierge program - featuring a textile history lesson, fabric tour, lessons in wearing the traditional kamen sarong and a visit to a nearby temple - the hotel helps connect guests to some of the unique aspects of Balinese culture. 

​The same focus can be found at the 14-room spa, where guests are greeted with a cup of bajigur (a soothing herbal drink made with ginger, clove, lemongrass, pandan leaf and coconut milk), then introduced to the menu by the Balinese wellness master. 

Signature treatments use locally inspired ingredients like seaweed and algae, pearls (long used in Asia for their skin brightening properties), coconut milk and herbal oils, while the two-hour Indian Ocean Ritual takes you out of the spa and into a beachside gazebo for a lomi-lomi massage, a body scrub and wrap using warm sand from the beach, and an ocean-water rinse while you stand in the shallows of the sea, taking in the soul-enriching beauty around you.​

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